Visual Storytelling Exercise 1
Visual Storytelling Exercise 1
Instructions:
1 - You are to create this as a blog post and share your link here. Make sure you add a reflection portion to the blog post: What did you do, why did you do it, what did you learn, how might it influence your future designs?
2 - Offer constructive feedback to three (3) of your peers.
3 - Be prepared to present and discuss this assignment in Wednesday Night's class.
Exercise 1: Mini Narrative Panels. Think of a simple everyday scenario -- for example, "running late for class," "losing and finding a pet," or "preparing for a school presentation." Your task is to tell that story in 3--5 frames or panels, without using any text (imagine it like a short comic strip or storyboard).
- Step 1: Identify the story elements in your scenario. Who is the character (maybe a student, a pet owner)? What is the setting (a dorm room, a park, a classroom)? What's the conflict or problem (alarm didn't go off, the pet ran away, stage fright)? What emotions will you convey (panic, sadness, excitement)? And what's the resolution (they catch the bus just in time, find the pet at the neighbor's, deliver a successful presentation)? Jot these down.
- Step 2: Sketch the panels. Panel 1 should set up the character and setting clearly. Panel 2 (and 3, if using more) should show the conflict or challenge rising -- use facial expressions or visual cues to dramatize it (sweat drops to show stress, maybe a clock ticking to show time). Panel 3 (or final panel) shows the resolution -- the problem solved or the lesson learned. Make sure the final image feels like an ending: you might show the character's emotion changed (now smiling, relieved) and the situation fixed.
- Step 3: Pay attention to visual techniques. Use composition to guide the story: for example, in Panel 1, maybe center the character to establish them. In Panel 2, use a diagonal composition or something a bit chaotic to emphasize conflict. In Panel 3, maybe a balanced, centered composition to imply resolution and stability. Also consider visual cues for emotion: color each panel's background to match mood (gray or red for conflict, bright green or blue for happy resolution). Even if you're just sketching in pencil, you can use things like thought bubbles, motion lines, or varying the amount of white space to communicate tension vs. calm.
- Step 4: Share your visual story with a friend or classmate (or imagine showing it to someone). No captions allowed -- see if they understand the story just from the visuals. Ask them to describe what they think happened. If they get it, great! If they miss something ("I wasn't sure why he was panicking here"), that's a clue for what you could clarify (maybe draw the alarm clock bigger or add the time "8:05" on it to show he's late).
This exercise forces you to use purely visual language to convey narrative. It will highlight the importance of clear character portrayal, sequencing, and emotional cues. Plus, it's fun to see how much you can communicate without a single word.
For this exercise, I created a three-panel visual story based on the scenario “running late for school.”
I chose this story because it’s a relatable experience, full of emotion and movement, for experimenting with visual storytelling.
I wanted the viewer to feel the panic and rush of the character realizing he overslept, the frantic energy of trying to get ready, and the relief and satisfaction of catching the bus just in time.
I decided to focus on strong facial expressions, exaggerated body language, and clear visual cues (like the vibrating alarm clock, toothbrush in hand, swinging backpack, and the waiting school bus) to make sure the story was easy to understand without any words.
I learned how much can be communicated through pose, expression, and props, even without text.
This exercise will influence my future designs by reminding me to make sure the composition and visual elements reinforce the story I’m trying to tell.
